Chess Puzzle #ujQAP — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen g4; rooks c1/h1; bishop c5; knight d5; pawns a2/b4/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks a3/h8; bishop f4; knight c2; pawns b5/c7/d3/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf4 — knight d5→f4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen f6→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king d2→d1).
3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen c3→c5, captures bishop. Opponent replies bxc5 (pawn b4→c5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Ne3+ — knight c2→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king d1→d2).
5. Best move: Nxg4 — knight e3→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qc3+.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/2p2p2/5q1p/1pBN4/1P2PbQ1/r2p4/P1nK2PP/2R4R w k - 0 24

Solve this puzzle interactively on Brilliant Knight — free tactics training powered by Stockfish 18, no signup required.